STARTECH C6ASPAT5BL network ethernet cable Cat6a shielded 5 ft blue

Cat6a shielded cable for 10 Gigabit links

This 5 ft patch cord uses aluminium-polyester foil shielding and 26 AWG stranded copper conductors to deliver 10 Gigabit Ethernet free of EMI and RFI noise. Blue PVC jacket and snagless RJ45 plugs suit rack or desk routing. It is tested to ANSI/TIA-568-D Category 6 requirements and carries a CMG fire rating. ||

Upgrade from unshielded Cat5e or Cat6 runs

Replace unshielded cables when crosstalk or external interference degrades 10G throughput in dense bundles or near power lines. The foil shield and grounded plugs suppress noise that unshielded designs cannot, making the jump worthwhile in electrically noisy cabinets or long parallel runs. Buyers who only need 1 Gigabit over short distances will not see a benefit. ||

Practical limits of the Cat6a shielded standard

Shielded Cat6a supports 10 Gigabit up to 100 metres, but alien crosstalk rises in tight bundles, so cable management matters. The CMG rating covers general-purpose indoor use only; plenum or riser spaces require higher-rated jackets. PoE delivery reaches 100 W per port, yet voltage drop over the 26 AWG conductors limits usable power at the far end of maximum-length runs.